LOCAL NEWS 8 Christmas Tree Delights Locals The Bank Coffee House <strong>in</strong> Alrewas has been keep<strong>in</strong>g local residents enterta<strong>in</strong>ed dur<strong>in</strong>g lockdown with its Christmas tree, which has been stand<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ce November last year! Hav<strong>in</strong>g stayed fit and healthy, the Coffee shop owners thought that it would be a shame to take it down, and <strong>in</strong>stead decided to make a feature of it. Recently, Alrewas Crochet Club have been adorn<strong>in</strong>g the tree with beautiful handmade decorations to mark different occasions, such as Burns Night, St David’s Day and St Patrick’s Day! ....................................................................................... Activate Create Project for Young People Broken Lightbulb is a community <strong>in</strong>terest company based <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g to create creat<strong>in</strong>g accessible and vibrant arts events and creative opportunities that disrupt and break down <strong>in</strong>equalities of access <strong>in</strong> local communities and focuses on develop<strong>in</strong>g opportunities for young people, women, and m<strong>in</strong>ority and disadvantaged groups through bespoke learn<strong>in</strong>g experiences and the creative arts. As well as cultivat<strong>in</strong>g arts engagement and creative opportunities, the organisation provides coach<strong>in</strong>g and mentor<strong>in</strong>g, consultancy, workshops, and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to help <strong>in</strong>dividuals or organisations to build their capacity, skills, and knowledge through our provision of professional expertise and best practices. Recently, a new project called Activate Create has been launched with the age group of 12-16 years old <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d. The project will create an onl<strong>in</strong>e platform as a space for young people to develop networks, skills and confidence through fun, creative opportunities aimed at <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g local young people’s social action engagement. A modular programme will offer mean<strong>in</strong>gful opportunities to affect and drive real change <strong>in</strong> the area and foster a sense of belong<strong>in</strong>g and be<strong>in</strong>g heard, accepted and valued <strong>in</strong> the district. Broken Lightbulb is look<strong>in</strong>g for young people aged 12-16 to get <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the project, as well as local groups, companies and <strong>in</strong>dividuals who wish to contribute or collaborate on this project. If you feel you could help, or if you are a young person/parent who wishes to f<strong>in</strong>d out more, visit www.brokenlightbulb.org or email activatecreate@brokenlightbulb.org. ....................................................................................... Covidsecure Vot<strong>in</strong>g Ahead of the elections <strong>in</strong> May, residents are be<strong>in</strong>g urged to sign up to vote by post or proxy if they would prefer not to vote <strong>in</strong> person this time round. On Thursday 6th May <strong>2021</strong> residents across <strong>Lichfield</strong> District will go to the polls to have their say on who is Staffordshire’s next Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner and who represents them at Staffordshire County Council. The Burntwood Neighbourhood Plann<strong>in</strong>g referendum, a by-election for the district ward of Summerfield & All Sa<strong>in</strong>ts, and a by-election for the city ward of Stowe, which were delayed due to Covid-19, will also take place. <strong>Lichfield</strong> District Council is busy mak<strong>in</strong>g plans to help people stay safe while cast<strong>in</strong>g their vote. There are a number of ways to have your say <strong>in</strong> the May. Voters can cast their vote <strong>in</strong> a poll<strong>in</strong>g station, by post, or by appo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g someone they trust to vote on their behalf, which is known as a proxy vote. The deadl<strong>in</strong>e to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 20th <strong>April</strong>, and for a proxy vote the deadl<strong>in</strong>e is 5pm on 27th <strong>April</strong>. To f<strong>in</strong>d out how to apply for a postal or proxy vote visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/elections, email elections@lichfielddc.gov.uk or call 01543 308125. If you have not yet registered to vote at your current address, apply onl<strong>in</strong>e at www.gov.uk/registertovote by midnight on Monday 19th <strong>April</strong>. ....................................................................................... Lottery Boost for LHCRT <strong>Lichfield</strong>'s canal trust has already benefited from a local Community Lottery which launched at the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of March. The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Community Lottery is a weekly lottery that raises money for good causes across the <strong>Lichfield</strong> District. Tickets cost just £1 each, with a top prize of £25,000, and for every ticket sold, 60% goes to local good causes, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Lichfield</strong> and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, with 50% go<strong>in</strong>g to the chosen cause and 10% to other causes <strong>in</strong> the area of <strong>Lichfield</strong> District. With<strong>in</strong> a week of the Lottery launch the Trust had already sold 33 of its <strong>in</strong>itial 50-ticket target, which means it had reached £858 of its £1,300 annual target. The first draw for the big prize of £25,000 takes place on Saturday 10th <strong>April</strong>. To support <strong>Lichfield</strong> and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust and buy Community Lottery tickets, visit www.lichfieldcommunitylottery.co.uk. ....................................................................................... School Named <strong>in</strong> Honour of Local Lady The Gurkha Welfare Trust has recently decided to name a new school build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> memory of former Rugeley resident and Rugeley & Armitage Camera Club member, Margaret Cross. Margaret worked tirelessly for more than 20 years with husband Rob to support former Gurkha soldiers and their families, rais<strong>in</strong>g nearly £110,000. Rob, a member of Rob and Margaret Cross <strong>Lichfield</strong> St. Chad's Rotary Club, is a keen photographer and former chairman of <strong>Lichfield</strong> Camera Club. Both he and Margaret have given talks about Nepal and the Gurkhas to community groups, illustrat<strong>in</strong>g their presentations with some stunn<strong>in</strong>g photographs of their lives <strong>in</strong> and travels to Nepal and other far-flung places. Their efforts were acknowledged with the award of an MBE to Rob <strong>in</strong> the <strong>2021</strong> New Year's Honours List. Sadly, Margaret passed away last August and it is entirely fitt<strong>in</strong>g that she will be given a permanent memorial <strong>in</strong> a community she did so much to support. ....................................................................................... Beacon Park Trees Felled A beech tree and a lime tree <strong>in</strong> Beacon Park were felled <strong>in</strong> March after an <strong>in</strong>spection highlighted concerns with their long-term health. After carry<strong>in</strong>g out a health check of the trees <strong>in</strong> Beacon Park, an external tree <strong>in</strong>spector <strong>in</strong>structed <strong>Lichfield</strong> District Council to remove two of its larger trees with<strong>in</strong> six months after f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g they both had fungal pathogens. The lime tree, which is next to the herbaceous garden, had Ganoderma. This is an aggressive form of fungus that will decay the tree quickly. The beech tree, which is next to the pool, had Ganoderma and Meripilus. Both forms of fungus are deadly for a tree. Two new trees are to be planted <strong>in</strong> their place.
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